The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners has put off a decision to fire three top administrators. Commissioner Ken Hagan wants to get rid of County Administrator Pat Bean, County Attorney Renee Lee, and internal performance auditor Jim Barnes.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner wants answers to who requested emails to or from his office regarding a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigation of raises for Bean and Lee.

But Commissioner Kevin White, who has been at odds with his colleagues because of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by one of his aids, prefers the go-slow approach.

Earlier in the meeting, the board hired an attorney to help them determine whether to fire two highly paid county staff members, and if so, how to go about it. They voted unanimously to hire attorney Robert McCrea, who is currently defending University of South Florida in a suit filed by former USF football coach Jim Leavitt. His fee is $310 per hour. But by several hours later, nothing had been accomplished. Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who had a motion on the floor to fire Bean and Lee, expressed disgust.

Moments before the meetingâs close, Sharpe and Commissioner Jim Norman sparred over the concept of due process.

The Commissioners will take up the issue again at their meeting next Tuesday afternoon.